Czech Republic panic as health officials warn of virus outbreak - 'Get vaccinated!'
Symptoms include: a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, upper stomach main, diarrhoea or constipation, itchy or yellow skin.
The Czech Republic has seen an increase in hepatitis A cases as the infectious disease spreads. In the first three months of the year alone, there were 320 cases registered by health officials - a whopping half of all the 636 cases last year, two of which resulted in death. Renata Ciupek from the South Moravian Regional Public Health Authority said: "Last year's rapidly increasing trend has not stopped. With the upcoming travel season, especially for holidays, infection hotspots will present a higher risk of further spread."
It particularly affects children, people living in hostels or homeless shelters, and marginalised communities. The hardest hit areas have been Prague, Olomuc, Moravia-Silesia, and Usti nad Labem. Kateřina Fabiánová from the Czech National Institute of Public Health said: "The declining incidence, combined with the absence of routine vaccination, has resulted in a growing number of people without protective antibodies who are highly susceptible to infection. This mainly concerns children and young adults."
The country's State Health Institute has urged everyone to adopt strict hygeine standards and get vaccinated.
Barbora Macková, chief public health officer, added: "The best preventive measure is vaccination, ideally in childhood, as full vaccination offers long-term protection.
"[Immunisation] is particularly recommended for people at higher risk of hepatitis A due to their occupation, travellers to high-risk areas, people with chronic liver conditions, close contacts of infected individuals, and people engaging in high-risk behaviours that facilitate virus transmission."
Despite this, the Czech Republic has seen an overall decrease in cases of hepatitis A over the last decade as sanitation infrastructure has improved.
DON'T MISS:
GMB's Ed Balls turns on Wes Streeting as he issues scathing six-word question [LATEST]
Doctor warns of five 'sneaky' health problems that raise risk of dementia [REVEAL]
Locals in major UK city given health alert as they are urged to 'keep safe' [REPORT]
Hepatitis A typically spreads through poor hygeine and contimated food or water.
The vaccine currently costs up to 2,000 CZK (£68), but some health insurance providers will partially cover the cost.
Symptoms include: a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, upper stomach main, diarrhoea or constipation, itchy or yellow skin.
However, most children and some adults may have no symptoms at all.
